Struggling to be at peace with the Sacred Scriptures

[FightingFat]

I noticed some verses which seemed contradictory to the dogma regarding the equality of Christ with His Father (and the Holy Spirit) and the Blessed Trinity.

Scripture is only the written account of our faith. Tradition is just as important. Jesus message was given to the twelve orally and they taught the Fathers orally. The Word was supposed to be transmitted through an interaction and engagement with the message, the Good News, The Gospel. Benedict XVI makes great play in “An Introduction to Christianity” of the fact that Christian belief can not be arrived at through self reflection, but it must be “handed-on” (Gk- paradousis, translated in the vulgate as traditio) and this handing on through his, this revelation can only take place “mit teiling”.

Newman pioneered this idea. In 1843 he gave his first sketch of a theory for the development of doctrine. An invisible principle that takes hold of the mind and keeps reflecting on itself. The image of Christ Jesus- living, comprehensive and real; the mystery now revealed to us shared in the unity of belief was stamped on the minds of the first Christians. It infested their minds like a burning fire and grew within them. It uses the minds of Christians. It is comprehensive containing all the truths. Creeds and dogmas live in this one idea and are designed to express it. It is inexhaustable, huge. God sized.

I don’t have much trouble understanding that Jesus is the Son of God, I just have had difficulty believing without a shadow of a doubt that He is God the Son, especially with all the other theories about Him being thrown around.

Reading some Church history might help with that! Of course any position you read is convincing to a certain point. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons gain converts. Scriptural interpretation without the magesterium leads to schism.

but that is not enough is it?

No, we need Tradition also. This Revelation is expressed through the Magesterium with the safe gaurd of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would be with us for all time to protect the deposit of faith, to maintain its integrity.

We tend to rely on the interpretations of others in the Church from St. Thomas Aquinas through to Scott Hahn.

As I mentioned earlier, this is about the way doctrine develops. The Church has to look for an Apostolic basis for this development. It unfolds like a flower. Understanding grows and develops in all of us as we consider the Scriptures in the context of our faith.

how did the average layman go about understanding the Scriptures?

This is why the Church focuses on orthopraxy. Mull this gem over- in 1450 ish Gutenberg invents the printing press. First thing he prints is a Bible. The cost and avaliabilty of the Bible has changed for ever. In 1517 Luther, having worked out what was wrong with Catholic belief, nailed his 95 theses to the church door at Wittenberg.

where do we say this verse needs interpretation but this clearly doesn’t; isn’t it often at the individual reader’s discretion.

You could say that, but you could also say that it leads to a greater affinity with the Sacred Scripture, it develops a desire to know- as it has in you (and me) and leads someone to find out. Yes it is complicated, but if you want to know what a book’s about, the best place to find out would be the place the book came from- the Catholic Church, which has been studying the texts since they were conceived, has recognised herself in those texts and has wethered all the storms of criticism that have raged around the nature of the text all through that time.

and they didn’t get it wrong I’m sure too.

We could do a lot worse than to trust those who have gone before us.

I also think if you believe in God, you must belief it has worked out according to his divine plan.

 

[MH84]

21 For by a man came death, and by a man the resurrection of the dead. 22 And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But every one in his own order: the firstfruits Christ, then they that are of Christ, who have believed in his coming. 24 Afterwards the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the Father, when he shall have brought to nought all principality, and power, and virtue. 25 For he must reign, until he hath put all his enemies under his feet.

26 And the enemy death shall be destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet. And whereas he saith, 27 All things are put under him; undoubtedly, he is excepted, who put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then the Son also himself shall be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Otherwise what shall they do that are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not again at all? why are they then baptized for them? 30 Why also are we in danger every hour?

*28 “The Son also himself shall be subject unto him”… That is, the Son will be subject to the Father, according to his human nature, even after the general resurrection; and also the whole mystical body of Christ will be entirely subject to God, obeying him in every thing. *

www.drbo.org

Can someone explain these verses. Did St. Paul think that Christ was given authority by the Father, and that the Son would have to give this back? I am not content with the explanation in italics.